Hornady loads the Custom .45 ACP with a 200-grain XTP bullet at 900 fps, producing 360 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. Everything about this round is subsonic and standard pressure, which keeps recoil mild and muzzle blast low. The brass case is conventional rather than nickel-plated, and it is fully reloadable for shooters who run their .45 ACP brass through a press. At 200 grains, the bullet sits between the lightweight 185-grain carry loads and the traditional 230-grain ball, splitting the difference in felt recoil and terminal depth.

The XTP bullet has been in continuous production since 1989. Its jacket has serrated score lines that control how the bullet peels open on impact. Instead of fragmenting violently like some modern designs, the XTP mushrooms progressively. It starts expanding at lower velocities and opens wider as impact speed increases. That means consistent wound channels across a range of distances and barrel lengths. There are no polymer tips or mechanical locks here. The XTP relies on precise jacket thickness and scoring geometry to do its job, and over three decades of gel tests and field use back that up.

This is a solid general-purpose defensive load for shooters who do not need barrier-blind performance or short-barrel optimization. It works well in a nightstand gun or as an everyday carry round in a mid-size or full-size .45. The controlled expansion reduces the risk of over-penetration in a home setting. Reloaders will appreciate the standard brass cases, and the Custom line typically costs less per round than the Critical Defense or Critical Duty lines. For a .45 ACP hollow point with a long proven record and moderate recoil, the 200-grain XTP is hard to argue against.